Tread-plate shaper.



G. R. GIBSON.

TREAD PLATE SHAPER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 1914.

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- Patented May 11, 1915.

HE NORRIS PETERS c0., FHOTC-LITHG, WASHINGTON, 0 C4 G. R. GIBSON.

TREAD PLATE SHAPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 19m.

Patented May 11, 1915.

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G. R. GIBSON.

TREAD PLATE SHAPER.

APPLICATION FILED JuNE2-. 191.4.

1,139,266. Patented May11g1'915.

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rr s'rA'rEs PATN GEORGE E. GIBSON, 0F ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

[BREAD-PLATE SHATPER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. GIBSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ellwood City, in the county of Lawrence and State ofPennsylvania, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Tread- PlateShapers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to tread plate shaping machines, and moreparticularly to the class of machines for shaping tread plates for usein the construction of metallic spiral chutes. p

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine ofthis character wherein a tread plate will first be corrugated, andthereafter straightened to increase or stretch the outside edges of theplate, while the medial or center portion thereof remains fixed so as togive the proper twist or shape to the plate when finished.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter wherein the corrugated and smoothing rolls may be readily andeasily adjusted so as to vary the twist or shape of the plate whenpassed through the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter wherein the corrugated rolls are driven slower with respect tothe smoothing rolls so as to insure the proper twisting of the plateswhen operated upon by the machine; the corrugating of the sheets createsa tension therein to effect the proper twisting thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter which is extremely simple in construction, reliable andeificient in its operation, and. inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout.

The invention accordingly consists in the construction, combination ofelements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in theconstruction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructedin accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.Fig. 3 is an end ele- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 11,1915. Application filed June 2, 1914.

Serial No. 842,438.

vation. Fig. 4 is a similar view, looking toward the opposite end of themachine. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 isa sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional Viewon the line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the treadplate finished.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 designates the bed or table, and11 the supporting legs, which constitute the frame of the machine.Rising from the bed or table 10 at opposite ends thereof are verticalend walls 12, the same being reinforced and rendered rigid by means ofupwardly bowed bridge bars 13 and 14 respectively, which are integralwith the said walls. Secured to the under face of the bed or table 10are spaced parallel angle bars 15, the same being extended beyond oneend of the frame and on them is mounted a split bearing 16 havingjournaled therein a driving shaft 17, the outer end of which carries abelt pulley 18 for connection with a motor or other driving power.

Formed in the end walls 12 are front and rear bearing guideways orrecesses 19 and 20 respectively, while projected into the frontguideways 19 and mounted upon the bed or table 10 are split stationarybearings 21 in which are journaled the ends of a shaft 22, the samebeing also fitted in a medial stationary bearing 23 rising from the bedor table 10, and this shaft 22 is fitted With a pair of corrugated rolls24 which are spaced apart and are located on opposite sides of themedial bearings 23 for rotation between the same and the end walls 12rising from the bed or table 10 of the frame of the machine.

Fitted to one end of the shaft 22 is a gear 25, the same meshing with apinion 26 fixed to the driving shaft 17 so that motion from the latterwill be imparted directly to the journal 22 for rotating the rolls 24thereon.

Arranged above the rolls 24 is a pair of independent upper corrugatedrolls 27 which have their inner journal ends 28 engaged in fulcrumbearings 29 provided with semicircular shaped grooves 30 receivingfulcrum ribs 31 correspondingly shaped thereto and formed on a bearingblock 32 integral 7 with and depending from the front reinforcing bar 13centrally thereof. The outer journal ends 33 of the upper rolls 27 areengaged in slidable bearings 34 which are formed with grooves 35receiving fulcrum keys 36 in which are swiveled adjusting screws 37, thesame being threaded in the end walls 12 so that by the adjustment of thesaid screws 37 the upper rolls 27 can be an gularly adjusted relative tothe lower rolls 24 whereby on the passing of a tread plate between thecorrugated rolls theextent of the corrugations formed thereby within thesaid plate will be varied from one edge to the other of the plate, itbeing understood of course that the upper rolls 27 mesh with the lowerrolls 24 at the outer end portions thereof so that on driving the lowerrolls 24 the upper rolls will rotate simultaneously therewith. Thefulcrum ribs 31 and the fulcrum keys 35 permit the rocking of the upperrolls 27 on adjusting the screws 37 for varying the angular pitch of thesaid upper rolls.

Formed above the base or table 10 of the frame of the machine centrallythereof are bearings 38 in which are journaled the trunnions 39 of aninverted U-shaped rocking beam or support 40 formed with end bearings 41fitted within the rear guideways or recesses 20 in the end walls 12, thebearings 41 being provided with vertical slots 42 in which are engagedthe journal ends 43 of upper and lower smoothing rolls 44 and 45respectively, the journal ends 43 of the upper roll 44 being verticallyadjustable in the slots 42 by means of slide blocks 46 ineach of whichis swiveled an adjusting screw .47 which is threaded in its respectivebearing 41, while threaded in the end walls 12 are adjusting screws 48which act upon the bearings 41 to swing the beam or support 40 and lockit in adjusted position so that the smoothing rolls 44 and 45 will beangularly disposed relative to the base or table 10 of the frame of themachine.

Formed on the bridge bar 14 and depend ing therefrom is a bearing 49which is in alinement with the trunnion 39 of the rocking support 40,and in this bearing 49 is journaled a stud axle 50 of a beveled gear 51which is neutral and meshes with similar beveled gears 52 mounted on therespective driven and counter shafts 53 and 54, the latter beingjournaled upon the rocking support 40, while the driven shaft 53 isjournaled on the base or table 10 of the frame of the machine. lhedriven shaft 53 has fixed to its outer end a gear 55 meshing with apinion 56 fixed to the driving shaft 17, while the counter shaft 54 hasfixed to its outer end a pinion 57 meshing with a gear 58 fixed t0 theouter journal end 43 of the lower smoothing roller 45, the speed ofrotation of the latter being slightly greater by reason of the gearconnections therewith than the lower corrugated rollers 24 during theoperation of the machine so that after the plate 60 is corrugated andpasses between the smoothing rolls 44 and 45 the same will be properlytwisted for the shaping thereof when finished. These plates 60 are madein rights and lefts so that it is necessary to ad just the machine bythe shifting of the rocking support 40, which properly positions thesmoothing rollers whereby the plates 60 when passing through the machinewill be properly shaped as a right or left plate, as the occasionrequires. 7

By reason of the travel of the rolls 44 and 45 faster than thecorrugated rolls 24 and 27 it enables the ironing or smoothing of thecorrugations more readily, yet if desired the roll 44 may be fixed inthe side Walls 12 and the roll 45 capable of adjustment in a verticaldirection, and following these rolls may be small rolls so placed as tostart the edges of the plate one'up and the other down and vice versa asregards rights and lefts As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the upperrollers 27 are maintained at an angle to the rolls 24. These upperrollers 27 are maintained at an angleby downward pressure of blocks 34against the ends of the shafts 33, the outermost edges of the rolls 27being seated against the outermost edges of the rolls 24.

From theforegoing it is thought that the construction and manner ofoperation of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is 1. A machine of the class described comprising abase, vertical end walls rising from the base, upwardly bowed bridgebars connected to said walls, angle plates fixed to the under face ofthe base and disposed in parallel relation to each other, a splitbearing mounted upon the said bars, a driving shaft journaled in thebearing, the said end walls being formed with front and rear guideways,medial bearings rising from the base, stationary bearings arranged inthe front guideway, a shaft journaled in the said stationary bearingsand also the medial bearings, corrugated rollers on the said shaft anddisposed at opposite sides of the medial bearing, a pair of independentcorrugated rollers arranged above the first-named rollers, fulcrumbearings arranged at the inner ends of the last-named rollers, slidablebearings arranged in the front guideways and working against the outerends of the said pair of upper rollers, adjustable fulcrum keys arrangedin the end walls and acting upon the slidable bearings for the angularadjustment of the upper pair of rollers relative to the first-namedrollers, connections between the first-named rollers and the saiddriving shaft, and upper and lower smoothing rollers having bearingsarranged in the rearmost guideway.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a base, vertical endwalls rising from the base, upwardly bowed bridgebars connected to saidwalls, angle plates; fixed to the under face of the base and disposed inparallel relation to each other, a split bearing mounted upon the saidbars, a driving shaft journaled in the bearing, the said end walls beingformed with front and rear guideways, medial bearings rising from thebase, stationary bearings arranged in the front guideway, a shaftjournaled in the said stationary bearings and also the medial bearings,corrugated rollers on the said shaft and disposed at opposite sides ofthe medial bearing, a pair of independent corrugated rollers arrangedabove the first-named rollers, fulcrum bearings arranged at the innerends of the last-named rollers, slidable bearings arranged in the frontguideways and working against the outer ends of the said pair of upperrollers, adjustable fulcrum keys arranged in the end walls and actingupon the slidable bearings for the angular adjustment of the upper pairof rollers relative to the first-named rollers, connections between thefirst-named rollers and the said driving shaft, upper and lowersmoothing rollers having bearings arranged in the rearmost guideway, andconnections between certain of the smoothing rollers and the saiddriving shaft.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a base, vertical endwalls rising from the base, upwardly bowed bridge bars connected to saidwalls, angle plates fixed to the under face of the base and disposed inparallel relation to each other, a split bearing mounted upon the saidbars, a driving shaft journaled in the bearing, the said end walls beingformed with front and rear guideways, medial bearings rising from thebase, stationary bearings arranged in the front guideway, a shaftjournaled in the said stationary bearings and also the medial bearings,corrugated rollers on the said shaft and disposed at opposite sides ofthe medial bearing, a pair of independent corrugated rollers arrangedabove the first-named rollers, fulcrum bearings arranged at the innerends of the last-named rollers, slidable bearings arranged in the frontguideways and working against the outer ends of the said pair of upperrollers, adjustable fulcrum keys arranged in the end walls and actingupon the slidable bearings for the angular adjustment of the upper pairof rollers relative to the first-named rollers, connections between thefirst-named rollers and the said driving shaft, upper and lowersmoothing rollers having bearings arranged in the rearmost guideway,connections between certain of the smoothing rollers and the saiddriving shaft, and means for angularly adjusting the smoothing rollersrelative to the base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE GIBSON.

Witnesses:

DAVID CARTWRIGHT, ELMER W. DAUDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

